Sky-Watcher Telescopes

Sky-Watcher is a global leader in astronomical instrumentation for the serious amateur astronomer. Are you searching for a fine instrument for astronomical pursuits? Look no further! Sky-Watcher offers the equipment you need at a value that makes sense in today’s economy.

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Sky-Watcher
BackPacker 80 Refractor
COOL ON-THE-GO OBSERVATORY
$199.99
Backpack Included

The Sky-Watcher 80ARS-MultiMount is a richest-field telescope offering a bright, panoramic field of view best suited for casual wide-field astronomy or for use as a powerful terrestrial spotting scope. The sleek and stylish 80mm optical tube is just 12.5" long, and weighs 3 lb. An excellent compact, portable telescope, the Sky-Watcher 80ARS travels light and fits a small space. The telescope's mount includes gee-whiz point-and-view astronomical tracking technology. The Sky-Watcher 80ARS optical system utilizes a 2-element achromatic (color-corrected) doublet objective lens made from Grade-A Crown & Flint glass. Each air-to-glass lens' surface is multicoated for optimum light through-put. Refractors provide the sharpest images available of any optical design.  

At about 50-power structural detail becomes apparent in our solar system's gas giants like Saturn with its distinctive rings, and Jupiter its with equatorial cloud bands. The Moon exhibits striking detail along the lunar terminator showing numerous craters and sea-like plains. The wide field of view lends itself to locating the brightest deep-space objects from a dark-sky location. The versatile SW 80ARS-Multimount functions as a terrific terrestrial spotting scope for viewing distant landmarks, scenery, animals, and people.  

ASTRONOMICAL MODE… 

The Sky-Watcher 80ARS-MultiMount has a patented mount that functions in an elegant, easy-to-operate and understandable horizontal and vertical mode! After a simple set-up, just point to any astronomical body in the sky and the mount automatically begins following the object across the heavens, making the stars stand-still while you just enjoy the view.  

ASTRONOMICAL TRACKING… 

Why is astronomical tracking important? Observing astronomical phenomenon involves following moving targets due to the Earth's rotation. View the Moon for a short time with the naked eye and it appears motionless. Several hours later, however, it will be in a different location. Seen through a telescope, the Moon is in constant motion drifting across the eyepiece field. Saturn viewed at higher power will move through the eyepiece field in less than a minute, very quickly indeed. Without the smooth, automatic tracking function of the MultMount, the observer must manually readjust the telescope's viewing orientation within a matter of a few minutes. MultiMount takes the tedium out of tracking by doing all the work and allowing you to leisurely gaze at the stars in an uninterrupted continuum.  

LAND SURVEY MODE… 

Sky-Watcher 80ARS-MultiMount includes a multi-location terrestrial surveillance mode; the sophisticated built-in software allows land survey involving up to 6 different locations. Given the mount is kept in the same physical orientation, the software memorizes the positions the telescope is to point to, and automatically goes to them on demand. You simply press the terrestrial "cruise" button and the number of the location desired, the telescope then moves into viewing position. It is also possible to command the telescope to cruise to each location automatically, stop for a moment, and move on to the next location. Now you can scout-out your favorite points of interest across the urban panorama automatically. Enjoy quick access to what is happening at your favorite bird feeder. Keep an eye on property access points, or use the technology for thousands of other interesting applications. The mount also accommodates most cameras, video camcorders, and binoculars with 1/4", 20-thread receptors. A snap cable is included that facilitates automatic exposures being taken at each point in a sequential survey with a compatible camera like a Canon EOS.  

INNOVATIVE ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER…

The Sky-Watcher 80ARS-MultiMount includes an ergonomically designed multi-speed electronic hand-controller. Space-age software enables the electronics to precisely control the sophisticated DC-Server motors on each axis, facilitating smooth, accurate vertical and horizontal movement on demand. While in tracking mode, the "Guide" speed, (1x), compensates for the Earth's rotation making stars stand-still. "Slow" speed, (4x), allows ultra-fine position changes to center objects in the eyepiece or Viewfinder. "Fast", (8x), speed allows relatively quick gross incremental changes in location. With tracking mode turned off, the guide speed accelerates to 32x; Slow speed to 64x; and Fast becomes a speed-demon at 800x. This allows the flexibility to transverse huge swaths of sky or terrestrial landscape in just a matter of seconds.  

The Sky-Watcher 80ARS-MultiMount comes standard with a rock-solid tabletop tripod. An L-bracket is provided for attachment of most cameras, camcorders, and spotting scopes with 1/4", 20-thread receptors. Two high-quality 1.25", 4-element Super Plossl eyepieces are provided: 25mm and 12.5mm. An image-erect 90° roof-prism and an 8 x 20 Erect Image Viewfinder are standard equipment. All of this equipment fits into a handy backpack for easy transport to remote locations while hiking, camping, on vacation, or enjoying adventures in your RV. Planetarium software for the PC is included. Requires 8 AA-size batteries (user-supplied).  

WORLD-CLASS COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES…  

The Sky-Watcher 80AR MM comes standard with a rock-solid tabletop tripod. A full length optional photo-type tripod is available, also. Legs are made of quality metal construction. The three section design collapses for compact transport and storage. Optional tripod has a unique 3/8" screw threaded bolt that threads into the base of the telescope. (Note: a regular photo-tripod with 1/4", 20 screws will not attach to the MultiMount.)

An L-bracket is provided for attachment of most cameras, camcorders, spotting scopes and binoculars with 1/4", 20-thread receptors.

Two premium 4-element 1.25" Super Plössl eyepieces are provided: a 25mm, and a 12.5mm. These high quality Super Plossl eyepieces are of the same specification supplied with selected high-end instruments costing thousands of dollars.

An image-erect 45° roof-prism and an 8 x 20 Erect Image Viewfinder are standard equipment, also.

All of this equipment fits into a handy, attractive backpack for easy transport to remote locations while hiking, camping, vacationing, or enjoying road trip adventures in your RV. MultiMount requires 8 AA-size batteries - user-supplied.

Details 

• SKU S11300
• Shipping Weight 22.00 lbs
• Optical Design Achromatic Refractor
• Lens Material Crown & Flint
• Aperture (Diameter) 80mm
• Focal Length 350mm
• F-Ratio F/4.4
• Secondary Mirror Diameter NA
• Highest Practical Power 189x
• Faintest Stellar Magnitude 11.2
• Resolving Power 1.75 arc sec
• Finderscope 8x20 Viewfinder
• Focuser Diameter 1.25"
• Diagonal 1.25", 45 degree Image Erect Prism
• Eyepiece(s) 1.25" Plossl 20mm and 6.3mm
• Mount Type Altazimuth
• Slow-Motion Control Computer micro-slewing
• Motor Drive Micro-step stepper
• Go-To Programmable 6 Locations Cruising Mode
• Tube Weight 3 lb
• Tube Dimension (dia. x length) 12.5" long
• Tripod Height Desktop Tripod

Price $199.99
Backpack Included